IP Library Granted Patent US 10,231,511
Granted Patent B2
US 10,231,511 · App. 15/459,816 · Granted Mar 19, 2019

Interwoven lattice structure for cushioning member

Inventors: Alan Guyan (Baltimore, MD); John Acevedo (Portland, OR); David Dirsa (Portland, OR); Kevin Fallon (Portland, OR)
Assignee: Under Armour, Inc.
A43B13/181A43B1/0009A43B3/0052A43B7/32A43B13/02A43B13/125A43B13/14A43B13/186A43D999/00B33Y80/00
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,231,511
App. No.
15/459,816
Granted
Mar 19, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

A cushioning member includes a first lattice structure and a second lattice structure. The first lattice structure includes a first network of struts and nodes with voids defined between the struts and nodes. The second lattice structure includes a second network of struts and nodes with voids defined between the struts and nodes. The first network of struts and nodes is interwoven with the second network of struts and nodes such that the first network of struts and nodes extends through the voids in the second network of struts and nodes.

Claims (28)

1. An article of footwear comprising:

an upper; and

a sole member connected to the upper, the sole member including:

a first lattice structure including a first network of struts and nodes with voids defined between the struts and nodes, and

a second lattice structure including a second network of struts and nodes with voids defined between the struts and nodes, the first network of struts and nodes interwoven with the second network of struts and nodes such that the first network of struts and nodes extends through the voids in the second network of struts and nodes.

2. The article of footwear of claim 1 wherein each node is defined by at least two struts extending from said node, and wherein the first network of struts and nodes is independent of and disengaged from the second network of struts and nodes such that the first network of struts and nodes does not contact the second network of struts and nodes in the sole member.

3. The article of footwear of claim 2 wherein the first network of struts and nodes is interlocked with the second network of struts and nodes.

4. The article of footwear of claim 2 wherein the sole member further comprises a first plate, the first lattice structure connected to the first plate and the second lattice structure connected to the first plate.

5. The article of footwear of claim 4 wherein the first lattice structure, second lattice structure and the first plate are provided as a monolithic unitary construction.

6. The article of footwear of claim 1 wherein the sole member is a midsole and an outsole is connected to the midsole.

7. The article of footwear of claim 6 wherein the first lattice structure and the second lattice structure extend from a heel region of the midsole to a midfoot region of the midsole without extending to a forefoot region of the midsole.

8. The article of footwear of claim 1 wherein the struts in the first network of struts and nodes are configured as parallel wave structures in multiple layers, wherein the parallel wave structures in a first layer are transverse to the parallel wave structures in a second layer.

9. The article of footwear of claim 8 wherein the second network of struts and nodes is identical in configuration to the first network of struts and nodes.

10. The article of footwear of claim 1 wherein the sole member comprises an upper shelf and a lower platform and the first lattice structure and the second lattice structure are connected to and extend between the upper shelf and the lower platform.

11. A cushioning member comprising:

a first lattice structure including a first network of struts and nodes with voids defined between the struts and nodes, and

a second lattice structure including a second network of struts and nodes with voids defined between the struts and nodes, the first network of struts and nodes interwoven with the second network of struts and nodes such that the first network of struts and nodes extends through the voids in the second network of struts and nodes.

12. The cushioning member of claim 11 wherein each node is defined by at least two struts extending from said node, and wherein the first network of struts and nodes is independent of and disengaged from the second network of struts and nodes such that the first network of struts and nodes does not contact the second network of struts and nodes.

13. The cushioning member of claim 12 wherein the first network of struts and nodes is interlocked with the second network of struts and nodes.

14. The cushioning member of claim 12 further comprising an upper shelf and a lower platform, the first lattice structure and the second lattice structure connected to and extending between the upper shelf and the lower platform.

15. The cushioning member of claim 14 wherein the first lattice structure, second lattice structure and the plate member are provided as a unitary construction.

16. The cushioning member of claim 11 wherein the cushioning member is provided on an article of apparel.

17. The cushioning member of claim 16 wherein the article of apparel is an article of footwear and wherein the cushioning member is provided as a midsole of the article of footwear.

18. The cushioning member of claim 11 wherein the struts in the first network of struts and nodes are configured as parallel wave structures in multiple layers, wherein the parallel wave structures in a first layer are transverse to the parallel wave structures in a second layer.

19. A method of manufacturing a cushioning member, the method comprising:

printing a first lattice structure including a first network of struts and nodes with voids formed between the struts and nodes; and

simultaneous with printing the first lattice structure, printing a second lattice structure including a second network of struts and nodes with voids formed between the struts and nodes, the first network of struts and nodes interwoven with the second network of struts and nodes such that the first network of struts and nodes extends through the voids in the second network of struts and nodes.

20. The method of manufacturing a cushioning member of claim 19 , the method further comprising printing a platform with the first lattice structure and the second lattice structure both connected to the platform, wherein each node is defined by at least two struts extending from said node, and wherein the first network of struts and nodes is independent of and disengaged from the second network of struts and nodes.

Assignments (2)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 13, 2020
From: UNDER ARMOUR, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 052654/0756 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 20, 2018
From: FALLON, KEVIN; ACEVEDO, JOHN; GUYAN, ALAN
To: UNDER ARMOUR, INC.
Reel/Frame 047828/0252 →
Continuity (4)
Continuation 15148549 · May 6, 2016
Provisional Application 62309286 · Mar 16, 2016
Provisional Application 62158950 · May 8, 2015
Related Publication 20170181496A1 · Jun 29, 2017
Cited By (28)
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